Assets declaration: Justice Ngwuta asks CCT to dismiss charges

Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court has faulted his ongoing trial for alleged non-compliance with the assets declaration law at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Justice Ngwuta, in a motion filed on January 9 by his team of lawyers led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), wants the tribunal to dismiss the charge filed against him by the state.

He argued that by virtue of the provisions of sections Section 318, 158(1) and Paragraph 21 (B) of the 3rd Schedule to the Constitution, the tribunal was without the requisite jurisdiction to hear the case.

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) had on March 21, 2017 filed an eight-count charge of false assets declaration against Justice Ngwuta.

In the charges, he was accused of contravening the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal (CCB/T) Act by failing to declare some of their assets.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges upon his arraignment last year, following which the prosecution opened its case.

The judge is also being tried before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court on separate charges of corruption.

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